Wind Energy: Design For Protection

For this lesson you will need to pop plenty of popcorn, some to snack on and some to play with. Yes, we will be playing with our food. You will also need a small table fan and some building blocks.

While the popcorn is popping, take a look at how others are designing to protect their crops and livestock from damaging wind.


Next, get the popcorn and place some on a table. This is the crop you are trying to grow. Point the fan at the popcorn and turn it on. See what happens at different speeds. Now, using blocks, play with different arrangements to design ways to protect your "crop" from the wind.
Notice near the end how some of the kernels were drawn toward the fan. This is because the strong wind blowing over the garden wall created a difference in air pressure inside the garden, thus creating suction. If your garden site is prone to strong prevailing winds, be sure to design windbreaks that allow some air to pass through.

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